Tecopa | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 35°50′54″N116°13′35″W / 35.84833°N 116.22639°W | |
Country | United States |
State | California |
County | Inyo |
Area | |
• Total | 18.657 sq mi (48.323 km2) |
• Land | 18.589 sq mi (48.146 km2) |
• Water | 0.068 sq mi (0.177 km2) 0.37% |
Elevation | 1,545 ft (471 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 120 [3] |
Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
ZIP code | 92389 |
Area codes | 442/760 |
FIPS code | 06-78050 |
GNIS feature ID | 2410062 [2] |
Tecopa is a census-designated place (CDP) in the Mojave Desert in southeast Inyo County, California, United States. Originally occupied by the Koso and Chemehuevi Indians, Pioneers began populating what would become the CDP in the late 19th century to support nearby mines. It is now better known for the natural hot springs in the northern part of the CDP.
The Old Spanish Trail and the later wagon road called the Old Mormon Road or Salt Lake Road, passed from Resting Springs, east of the modern site of Tecopa, 7 miles to Willow Creek (fed by Willow Spring within China Ranch Wash on the east bank of the canyon of the Amargosa River (then called Saleratus Creek)), south of Tecopa. In 1859, The Prairie Traveler, a popular handbook for overland travelers at that time described it:
The spring is on the left of the road, and flows into Saleratus Creek. Animals must not be allowed to drink the Saleratus water." [4]
There the trail turned to follow the river south to Salt Springs. [5]
China Ranch Wash is named for the Chinese Man who developed Willow Creek around 1900 and raised meat and vegetables to sell to the miners. [6]
In 1875 two brothers William D. and Robert D. Brown, had discovered lead and silver ore at what would become the Resting Springs Mining District and began promoting it. They established a townsite, calling it Brownsville, 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Resting Springs near the head of Willow Creek. [7] Kasson, California was nearby. A camp was established at the site as mines were developed at Noonday Mine in the late 1870s. [7] Jonas Osborne bought out the Browns, and renamed the townsite after Paiute leader Chief Tecopa. [7] The camp grew into a town; in 1877 a post office began operating at there. [7]
In 1878, it was determined that the townsite was 300 yards within Inyo county. Settling a dispute with San Bernardino County of who controlled the township. Soon thereafter, the town went into decline, with most of the miners moving to Resting Springs in July 1879. Inyo County Sheriff William Welch considered Tecopa a costly mistake because, "it costs five cents a pound freight from San Bernardino here." [8] The original townsite was occasionally occupied but never really revived and in 2006 the Amargosa Conservancy acquired it for preservation purposes [9]
The townsite is currently located in the vicinity of "The Triangle", a small piece of land surrounded by the arms of three "Y's" at the intersection of two roads. It was reestablished in 1907 when the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad reached the site, which was the closest point from the railroad to the mines. A post office opened at the new site in 1907, was closed in 1931, and reopened in 1932. [7] A church, some homes and seasonal eating establishments are also located by the Triangle.
The road heading north of the Triangle leads to the Hot Springs zone of the community where the State of California made indemnity selections in 1927. The State subsequently sold parcels to private citizens. In the early 1960s John Gregory Dunne documented that several low-income retirees were squatting in trailers within the zone.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) granted a 40 acre "Recreational and Public Purposes" (R&PP) lease to Inyo County for County run facilities. The Hot Springs area is currently where the Community Center, Fire Station, Library, several tourist facilities and some homes are located.
The Triangle is the west endpoint of the Old Spanish Trail (OST) Heading east, the OST Road passes Tecopa-Francis Elementary School [10] (now closed) to the intersection with the Furnace Creek Road. Southwest of the intersection is most populous part of the community, originally known as "Jackrabbit Flat." In the 1950', the General Land Office, then the BLM began offering parcels under the authority of the Small Tract Act of 1938 as recreational properties to become known as "Jackrabbit Homesteads. [11] The first round of five acre parcels were proofed and patented prior to 1959. After a change in policy second round of a few more parcels were offered at fair market value by BLM. The lands offered under the first two rounds remain largely undeveloped. The third round of 2.5 acre parcels were offered in 1964 to provide inexpensive land for housing retirees that were squatting at the Hot Springs. Seven parcels were sold, six of which were purchased by the Thilenius and Parrish families who subdivided them and developed water systems. Those parcels now constitute the densist population of what is now known as "Tecopa Heights," the area offered under the Small Tracts Act. The cemetery is on the west side of Tecopa Heights.
Since Tecopa lacks proper water infrastructure that is capable of properly filtering ground water to state standards, the Southern Inyo County Fire Protection District in 2014 received a grant in order to install a water kiosk for the community, The community water kiosk was opened in 2017 east of Tecopa Heights on an R&PP lease granted by the BLM. [12] [13]
In 1976, Congress designated the federal lands within the CDP part of the "California Desert Conservation Area" in Title VI, Section 601 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. Tecopa is on the east side of the Amargosa Range which lies between the CDP and Death Valley, which was designated a National Park in the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 CDPA. The Nopah Range, designated Wilderness in the CDPA is to the east.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 18.7 square miles (48 km2), of which, 18.6 square miles (48 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (0.37%) is water.
Historically, Tecopa's economy was based on silver and lead mining. [14] [15] [16] [17] Those mines closed in 1957, by which time retirees were moving to the area to enjoy the hot springs. Nearby mines for other minerals such as talc continued operating for another 25 years providing employment for a few citizens of the area. Tourism to the hot springs increased and Tecopa began slowly transitioning to an ecotourist and resort area. [18]
A major attraction in the area is the Tecopa Ecological Reserve, [19] which hosts an undeveloped natural ground-fed hot spring. [20] [21] However, the natural hot spring is subject to closure because of impacts to protected Amargosa vole (a subspecies of Microtus californicau) habitat from camp fires and human waste. [22]
Tecopa also has minimal agriculture activities; mostly revolving around date farming, [23] and marijuana cultivation. [24]
The town has a growing microbrewery and bakery scene that caters to the patrons of Tecopa's three hot springs resorts during the fall and winter seasons. [25] [26] [27]
Tecopa holds an annual firehouse fling in November. It is hosted by Southern Inyo Fire Protection District, as a way to raise funds for the rural fire department [28] [29] [30]
Tecopa also hosts in November Tecopa Takeover Music Festival since 2014 [31] [32] [33]
At the 2010 census Tecopa had a population of 150. The population density was 8.0 people per square mile (3.1/km2). The racial makeup of Tecopa was 119 (79.3%) White, 1 (0.7%) African American, 8 (5.3%) Native American, 2 (1.3%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 1 (0.7%) from other races, and 19 (12.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8 people (5.3%). [34]
The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized.
There were 92 households, 13 (14.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 22 (23.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2 (2.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 6 (6.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 6 (6.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 2 (2.2%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 56 households (60.9%) were one person and 28 (30.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 1.63. There were 30 families (32.6% of households); the average family size was 2.60.
The age distribution was 19 people (12.7%) under the age of 18, 5 people (3.3%) aged 18 to 24, 17 people (11.3%) aged 25 to 44, 59 people (39.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 50 people (33.3%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 57.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 138.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 133.9 males.
There were 159 housing units at an average density of 8.5 per square mile (3.3/km2),of which 92 were occupied, 57 (62.0%) by the owners and 35 (38.0%) by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 6.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 10.3%. 96 people (64.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 54 people (36.0%) lived in rental housing units.
At the 2000 census there were 99 people, 60 households, and 22 families in the CDP. The population density was 5.3 people per square mile (2.1/km2). There were 133 housing units at an average density of 7.2 per square mile (2.8/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.89% White, 1.01% Black or African American, 7.07% Native American, and 3.03% from two or more races. 4.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. [35] Of the 60 households 10.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.3% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 63.3% were non-families. 55.0% of households were one person and 30.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.65 and the average family size was 2.50.
The age distribution was 10.1% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 14.1% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 43.4% 65 or older. The median age was 63 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.
The median household income was $12,344 and the median family income was $16,250. Males had a median income of $0 versus $31,250 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $10,395. There were 30.8% of families and 38.6% of the population living below the poverty line, including 100.0% of under eighteens and 27.0% of those over 64.
Public transportation in Tecopa is operated by Eastern Sierra Transit Authority as a fixed route lifeline service to residents of Tecopa to Pahrump twice a month. [36] In October 2020, service was suspended because the contractor serving this route, Pahrump Senior Center, sold the route to a third-party vendor and failed to meet contractual obligations. [37] Eastern Sierra Transit Authority is in the process of finding an alternative provider for the Tecopa bus route [38] [39]
Tecopa receives electrical power through Southern California Edison. [40] There is no gas utility serving Tecopa. [41] The community instead relies on propane gas deliveries from companies located in Pahrump [42] [43]
The Incumbent telephone carrier for Tecopa is AT&T. [44] The county acknowledges that AT&T fails to maintain their network by providing unreliable Telephone and internet service. The community instead relies on Fixed Wireless Internet Service Providers and Satellite internet [45]
Tecopa doesn't have traditional residential waste services. Instead, residents use communal dumpsters, which are serviced by C&S Waste Solutions under the Pahrump Valley Disposal brand. [46] [47]
In the state legislature, Tecopa is in the 8th Senate District , represented by Democrat Angelique Ashby, [48] and the 26th Assembly District , represented by Democrat Evan Low. [49]
Federally, Tecopa is in California's 8th congressional district , represented by Democrat John Garamendi. [50]
Children in Tecopa attend schools operated by Death Valley Unified School District
The Tecopa Branch Library, of the Inyo County Free Library. Provides internet access to community members who lack affordable internet [51]
Law enforcement services to Tecopa is provided by the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office [52]
Fire fighting services is provided by Southern Inyo Fire Protection District, which is headquartered in Tecopa. [53] [54] [55] [56]
Cemetery Services in Tecopa are managed by the Tecopa Cemetery District since February 2022 [57] [58] [59]
It was the subject of an article by John Gregory Dunne published in the Saturday Evening Post and reprinted in Dunne's book, Quintana & Friends, published by Dutton in 1978.
Inyo County is a county in the eastern central part of the U.S. state of California, located between the Sierra Nevada and the state of Nevada. In the 2020 census, the population was 19,016. The county seat is Independence. Inyo County is on the east side of the Sierra Nevada and southeast of Yosemite National Park in Central California. It contains the Owens River Valley; it is flanked to the west by the Sierra Nevada and to the east by the White Mountains and the Inyo Mountains. With an area of 10,192 square miles (26,400 km2), Inyo is the second-largest county by area in California, after San Bernardino County. Almost half of that area is within Death Valley National Park. However, with a population density of 1.8 people per square mile, it also has the second-lowest population density in California, after Alpine County.
Nye County is a county in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 51,591. Its county seat is Tonopah. At 18,159 square miles (47,030 km2), Nye is Nevada's largest county by area and the third-largest county in the contiguous United States, behind Coconino County of Arizona and San Bernardino County of California.
Golden Valley is an unincorporated area and census-designated place (CDP) in Mohave County, Arizona, United States, located halfway between Kingman and Bullhead City. The population was 8,801 at the 2020 census.
Furnace Creek, formerly Greenland Ranch, is a census-designated place (CDP) in Inyo County, California, United States. The population was 136 at the 2020 census, up from 24 at the 2010 census. The elevation of the village is 190 feet (58 m) below sea level. The visitor center, museum, and headquarters of the Death Valley National Park are located at Furnace Creek.
Independence is a census-designated place in Inyo County, California. Independence is located 41 miles (66 km) south-southeast of Bishop, at an elevation of 3930 feet. It is the county seat of Inyo County, California. The population of this census-designated place was 669 at the 2010 census, up from 574 at the 2000 census.
Olancha is a census designated place in Inyo County of the U.S. state of California. Olancha is located on U.S. Route 395 in California, 37 miles (60 km) south-southeast of Independence. As of the 2010 census, the population was 192, up from 134 at the 2000 census.
Shoshone is a census designated place (CDP) in Inyo County, California, United States. The population was 22 at the 2020 census, down from 31 at the 2010 census.
Middletown is a census-designated place (CDP) in Lake County, California, United States. Its population was 725 at the 2020 census down from 1,323 at the 2010 census, which was up slightly from 1,020 at the 2000 census. Middletown was given its name because it is halfway between Lower Lake and Calistoga, which is 17 miles (27 km) to the south. The town was severely damaged by the 2015 Valley Fire.
Beatty is an unincorporated town along the Amargosa River in Nye County, Nevada, United States. U.S. Route 95 runs through the town, which lies between Tonopah, about 90 miles (140 km) to the north and Las Vegas, about 120 miles (190 km) to the southeast. State Route 374 connects Beatty to Death Valley National Park, about 8 miles (13 km) to the west.
The Amargosa River is an intermittent waterway, 185 miles (298 km) long, in southern Nevada and eastern California in the United States. The Amargosa River is one out of two rivers located in the California portion of the Mojave Desert with perennial flow. It drains a high desert region, the Amargosa Valley in the Amargosa Desert northwest of Las Vegas, into the Mojave Desert, and finally into Death Valley where it disappears into the ground aquifer. Except for a small portion of its route in the Amargosa Canyon in California and a small portion at Beatty, Nevada, the river flows above ground only after a rare rainstorm washes the region. A 26-mile (42 km) stretch of the river between Shoshone and Dumont Dunes is protected as a National Wild and Scenic River. At the south end of Tecopa Valley the Amargosa River Natural Area protects the habitat.
The Amargosa Valley is the valley through which the Amargosa River flows south, in Nye County, southwestern Nevada and Inyo County in the state of California. The south end is alternately called the "Amargosa River Valley'" or the "Tecopa Valley." Its northernmost point is around Beatty, Nevada and southernmost is Tecopa, California, where the Amargosa River enters into the Amargosa Canyon.
The Tecopa pupfish is an extinct subspecies of the Amargosa pupfish. The small, heat-tolerant pupfish was endemic to the outflows of a pair of hot springs in the Mojave Desert of Inyo County, California. Habitat modifications, the introduction of non-native species and hybridization with the related Amargosa River pupfish led to its extinction around 1979.
Coleville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Mono County, California, United States. It is located at an elevation of 5,141 feet (1,567 m) in the Antelope Valley on the West Walker River. The population was 419 at the 2020 census, down from 495 at the 2010 census.
Death Valley Junction, more commonly known as Amargosa, is a tiny Mojave Desert unincorporated community in Inyo County, California, at the intersection of SR 190 and SR 127, in the Amargosa Valley and just east of Death Valley National Park. The zip code is 92328, the elevation is 2,041 ft (622 m), and the population is fewer than four people.
The Harmony Borax Works is located in Death Valley at Furnace Creek Springs, then called Greenland. It is now located within Death Valley National Park in Inyo County, California. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Pahrump is an unincorporated town located at the southernmost tip of Nye County, Nevada, United States, about 62 miles (100 km) west of Las Vegas. Pahrump lies adjacent to the Nevada–California border and the area had a population of 44,738 as of the 2020 census.
Charleston View, formally known as Calvada Springs, is an unincorporated community in Inyo County, California. The Charleston View CDP had a population of 45 in the 2020 census.
Paradise is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) that is the southernmost community in Mono County, California, United States. The population was 174 at the 2020 census.
Amargosa Opera House and Hotel is a historic building and cultural center located in Death Valley Junction, in eastern Inyo County, California near Death Valley National Park.
Lake Tecopa is a former lake in Inyo County, southern California. It developed during the Miocene and the Pleistocene within a tectonic basin close to the border with Nevada. Fed by the Amargosa River and some neighbouring washes, it eventually culminated to a surface area of 235 square kilometres (91 sq mi) around 186,000 years ago and left sediments. Afterwards, the Amargosa River cut a gorge out of the lake and into Death Valley with its Lake Manly, draining the lake. The present-day towns of Shoshone, California and Tecopa, California lie within the basin of the former lake.